針灸刺激ST36〈足三里〉可減緩LPS誘發CAT-2、CAT-2B及GTPCH於大白鼠肺臟組織之表現

Pre-treatment of Acupuncture Stimulation of ST36 (Zusanli) Significantly Attenuates CAT-2, CAT-2B and GTPCH Transcription in Septic Rat Lungs

背景：CAT-2、CAT-2B及GTPCH於調控iNOS之活性機轉中扮演一極重要之角色。此研究之目的乃在於探討針灸刺激ST36〈足三里〉對CAT-2、CAT-2B及GTPCH於大白鼠肺臟組織表現之影響。方法：六十隻雄性大白鼠隨機被分配至1）LPS、2）N/S、3）LPS+ST36、4） ST36、5） LPS+Sham及 6） Sham等六組。吾人採用腹腔注射LPS以刺激大白鼠之模式來誘發iNOS、CAT-2、CAT-2B及GTPCH於大白鼠肺臟組織之表現。吾人亦採用腹腔注射生理食鹽水（N/S）之模式來作為對照組；而針灸刺激ST36（命名為ST36）或一已知不具效果之鄰近部位（命名為Sham）則於LPS注射前一小時施行。大白鼠於LPS注射六小時後犧牲，吾人隨後收集肺臟組織並加以分析。結果：LPS注射會大量誘發iNOS、CAT-2、CAT-2B及GTPCH於大白鼠肺臟組織之表現，而針灸刺激ST36可有效減緩LPS注射所誘發iNOS、CAT-2、CAT-2B及GTPCH之表現。結論：針灸刺激ST36〈足三里〉可有效減緩LPS誘發CAT-2、CAT-2B及GTPCH於大白鼠肺臟組織之表現。

Background: The isozymes of type-2 cationic amino acid transporter (including CAT-2 and CAT-2B) and guanosine triphosphate cyclohydrolase I (GTPCH) constitute part of the down-stream regulatory pathways that regulate nitric oxide (NO) production mediated by inducible NO synthase (iNOS). We sought to evaluate the effects of acupuncture stimulation of ST36 (Zusanli) on the expression of CAT-2, CAT-2B, and GTPCH in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated rat lungs. Methods: Sixty rats were randomized into 6 groups (n = 10 in each group): 1) LPS, 2) Normal saline (N/S), 3) LPS + ST36, 4) ST36,5) LPS + Sham, and 6) Sham groups. Manual acupuncture stimulation of ST36 (designated as 'ST36') or a 'nonacupoint' (designated as 'Sham') was performed in lightly immobilized rats for 30 minutes. Then, LPS injection was performed to induce the expressions of iNOS, CAT-2, CAT-2B, and GTPCH in rat lungs. Rats were sacrificed 6 hours after LPS injection and the expressions of these enzymes were assayed. Results: Reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) data revealed that the expressions of iNOS, CAT-2, CAT-2B, and GTPCH in N/S-stimulated rat lungs were low. Exposure to LPS significantly induced the expressions of iNOS, CAT-2, CAT-2B, and GTPCH. In addition, the pre-treatment of ST36 acupuncture significantly attenuated the LPS-induced expressions of iNOS, CAT-2, CAT-2B, and GTPCH in stimulated rat lungs. Conclusions: Pre-treatment of acupuncture stimulation of ST36 had significantly inhibitory effects on LPS-induced iNOS, CAT-2, CAT-2B, and GTPCH expressions in septic rat lungs.